Objective: We sought to investigate the concentrations of serum neurofilament light-chain (NfL) in essential tremor (ET) patients and healthy controls.

Background: Essential tremor is a common neurological disorder, with clinical and pathophysiological links to the cerebellum. Inquiries into the etiology, pathophysiology, and nosology of ET stand to benefit from the identification of disease biomarkers. Serum neurofilament light-chain has emerged as a novel signature of conditions in which neuronal injury reflects an outcome of the ongoing disease process.

Method: In this case-control study, our powered study population of 35 ET patients and 35 age-matched healthy controls underwent clinical assessments and measurement of serum NfL concentration using Simoa technology.

Results: ET patients and controls had similar age, sex and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. Serum NfL was elevated in ET patients (log-transformed serum NfL concentration = 1.20 ± 0.18 vs. 1.10 ± 0.14, p = 0.015). This difference persisted after accounting for age, sex and Montreal Cognitive Assessment score in a multiple linear regression model (p = 0.008). There was no association between tremor severity and serum NfL levels (p = 0.73).

Conclusion: In this sample of ET patients and controls, serum NfL concentrations were significantly higher in ET. Studies in additional cohorts of ET cases would be of value in attempting to replicate these results and assessing diagnostic utility.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/serum-neurofilament-light-chain-concentrations-in-essential-tremor-a-case-control-study/